NDCA meeting on January 4th, 5th and 6th in Florida

[reb]

From an on-line publication (DanceSportComps) showing proposals for the NDCA meeting: (in two parts)!

Here's the body of the proposals:

NDCA Proposals coming up for discussion and vote at the January 4-6

th 2007​

Meeting in Florida.​

Electronic Judging Systems

Proposed Rule Change​

#1 – Rule III .B 2.i

(Submitted by lst Vice President)​

Add this rule: “A “hard copy” of the judges marks must be produced by any adjudicating system that uses an electronic system of judging.”​

Electronic Judging Systems
Proposed Rule Change​

#2 – Rule III.D. 11.a.

(Submitted by Pan American Teachers of Dancing)​

Add this rule: A “hard copy” of the judges marks must be produced by any adjudicating system that uses an electronic system of judging. The adjudicator must sign each page of this “hard copy”.​

Electronic Judging Systems
Proposed Rule Change​

#3 – Rule 111.E.7.

(Submitted by Pan American Teachers ofDancing)​

Add to thistle text that is italicized: “Organizers are required to retain the original judges’ score sheets and/or signed ‘Hard copies for a period of thirty (30) days following the close of the event, in the event of a discrepancy in the scrutineers final markings.”​

Electronic Judging Systems
Proposed Rule Change​

#4 – Rule IV.B.6.

(Submitted by Pan American Teachers of Dancing)​

Add to this rule the text that is italicized: Judges shall mark and sign their score cards and/or –“hard copies’ of electronic ballots in ink, including their code letter, and shall initial each and every alteration.​

Electronic Judging Systems
Proposed Rule Change​

#5-rules IV.C.5. 6. & 9.

(Submitted by Pan American Teachers of Dancing)​

Consider altering these three rules if necessary to accommodate any additional requirements due to electronic system of judging.​

Maximun number of Pro-Am couples on the floor at the same time
Proposed Rule Change​

#6 – Rule 111.D.33.

(Submitted by Pan American Teachers of Dancing)​

Reconsider this rule (due to perceived continued violations): ‘In Pro/Am events where “multiple competitions” are danced at the same time, no more than eight ~8~ couples may be judged at the same time.” Apply any change to rules 111.D.33 .a & c. as well.​

Judge-employee - conflict of interest
Proposed Rule Change​

#7 – Rule IV.A.1.

(Submitted by Pan American Teachers of Dancing)​

Add to this rule the text that is italicized: “A judge must excuse himself from an adjudicating panel on any occasion when he has a member of his immediate family, or any member of the same household or any employee dancing in a particular heat of a competition. “Immediate Family” is defined as first cousin or above.” (“Employee” would have to be defined more specifically)​

Competition Floor Size
Proposed Rule Change​

#8 – Rule 111.D.21.

(Submitted by Heritage Dance Foundation)​

Reconsider this rule, which at present reads: “Floors for Competitions must be a minimum of 60 feet long and a minimum of 36 feet wide1 or 2,160 square feet. Floors for Championship events must be a minimum of 66 feet long and a minimum of 42 feet wide,”​

Pro minimum US comp attendance for Nationals eligibility revisited
Proposed Rule Change​

#9 – Rule V1.C.3.

(Submitted by 2nd Vice President)​

Reconsider this rule, which at present reads: “Properly registered Professional
Competitors are eligible to dance in any closed championship of the United States Ballroom Championships if they have competed in a minimum of four NDCA sanctioned championships within the USA in the twelve months preceding any United States National Championship that is used to select representatives to a World Professional Championship (this requirement applies only to the Standard, Latin, Smooth and Rafts divisions)) and also fulfill one of the following criteria:”​

Pre-Teen girls “Party dress” definition requested
Proposed Rule Change​

#10 – Rule X.E.1.b.

(Submitted by 2​

nd Vice President)

Define what the term “Party Dress” means in this rule: “Pre-Teens must dress as listed below. Juniors, Youths and Adults must dress as listed below or at the discretion of the organizer. 1. Pre-Teen. a, Boys. Dress Shirt and pants, optional tie and/or cummerbund or vest or black sweater. B. Girls. Party dress with no sequins, rhinestones, feathers, glitter, fringe or similar decorations.”​

​

 

[reb]

Part II

Start the heats when competitor ready
Proposed Rule Change
#11 – Rule 111.D.42.
(Submitted by Professional Dancers Federation)

Add this rule: “The music may not commence until all competitors in a heat are in position and appear ready to dance. If a competitor claims to be “not ready” then the emcee shall grant that competitor an additional 10 seconds.”

Proposed Rule Change
#12 – Rule V.A.10.
(Submitted by Professional Dancers Federation)
Add this rule: “Registrants with the NDCA must be a member in good standing with a member organization.”

Adjudicator certification valid independent of current membership
Proposed Rule Change
#13 – Rule V .B.2.d.
(Submitted by Professional Dancers Federation)

Add this rule: “Professional adjudicator certification permanently stays with a member of the NDCA, although they may no longer be a member of the organization that tested them.”

20 minute break between rounds revision
Proposed Rule Change
#14 – Rule 111.D.8.
(Submitted by Ballroom Director)
Amend this rule to allow less than a 20 minute intermission between tie rounds of professional and ‘(championship amateur” events. The amended rule to read: “During the same competition session in all professional and “championship amateur” competitions, an intermission of not less than ten (10) minutes, nor in the absence of reasonable circumstances, not more than sixty (60) minutes must be granted to couples in between the early rounds, up to and including the break that precedes the quarter-final round. The
intermission between the quarter-final, semi-final and final rounds must be not less than 15 minutes. It is recommended that for other multi-dance amateur and Pro-Am competitions that an intermission of five (5) minutes per dance (up to twenty minutes total) be granted between the quarter-final, semi-final and final rounds.” (Note – the times of 10 and 15 minutes proposed could be amended at the Ballroom Department Meeting as the delegates see fit.)

Amateur vs Pro classifications
Proposed Rule Change
#15 – Rule E.A.2.
(Submitted by 1st~ Vice President)

Reconsider this rule Particularly the portion related to amateur teaching), which at present reads: “AMATEUR CLASSIFICATIONS
a. AMATEUR: An Amateur is one for whom dancing is strictly an avocation, a
recreational activity, or a competitive sport, and who participates in dancing without seeking or receiving financial gain.
(1) Pre-Teen, Junior, Youth and Adult Amateur dancers must be registered with the NDCA unless they are participating only in pro/am events.
(2) A "Non-Professional" Amateur competitor is one who competes in any
Contemporary Dance Contest for prize money, but who is not classified as a Professional Dancer as Defined in #1 above.
(3)NOTE: With the exception of honor dances and formation teams, amateurs are not permitted to demonstrate at NDCA events.
(4) COLLEGIATE COURSE OF STUDY REQUIREMENTS: The NDCA recognizes
that a specified amount of teacher training as well as classroom teaching experience, under the direct supervision of university professors, is a requirement in some collegiate Dance Major and/or Minor programs. Where this is demonstrated to be the case, such students, who are fulfilling their course requirements, will not be classified as professionals by the NDCA.
WORLD COMPETITOR CLASSIFICATION: A "World Competitor" is a competitor
who has appeared within the past twelve months in the final round of the United States National Amateur Latin Championship, the United States National Amateur Standard Championship, or the top 3 placements in the United States National Amateur 10-Dance Championship.
(1) "World Competitors" will be permitted to coach other amateur competitors providing any such coaching is done under the supervision of a professional coach/teacher, and any and all income derived from such coaching is paid directly towards the couples own competitive endeavors. At the time of registration with NDCA, eligible dancers should register under the "World Competitor" program. All other amateur dancers registering with the NDCA must comply with the definition of amateur as specified in the NDCA Rules.
(2) World Competitors are not allowed to coach professionals.
(3) This classification is valid for a one-year period following the conclusion of the applicable United States Championship wherein the competitor gains "World Competitor" status. Competitors may retain "World Competitor" status from year to year only by re-qualifying at the applicable United States National Amateur Championship.
(4) This classification applies only to the two members of the partnership that earn the World Competitor Classification. Should the partnership split up during the one year period both individuals will be permitted to continue to coach other amateur competitors, but their new partners will not receive World Competitor Classification and will not be permitted to coach other amateur competitors under this provision unless they have also
earned the World Competitor Classification status in the current year."

Passing a test does not automatically make you a Pro (if you don’t want it to)
Proposed Rule Change
#16 - Rule II.A.I.
(Submitted by PDF)

Part a: Following the existing text that reads "A Professional Dancer is one who is any or all of the following:" insert this additional text in parenthesis: (Anyone studying for or taking a theory exam will not be deemed a professional unless they declare themselves such as defined below).
Part b: Remove Rule II.A.a.a. This rule presently reads: "A member of a Professional Society by Examination."

Beats per minute rather than Bars per minute
Proposed Rule Change
#17 – Rule IX.B.1 & IX.B.3..
(Submitted by PDF)

Amend the approved tempi list of dances to list Beats per minute rather than Bars per Minute.

 

[DancingJools]

I think the proposed rule change that individual members must first be members of constituent organizations might be quite controversial.
Wonder what will happen to that? If it is passed, the PDF will become a very powerful organization, since most "individual" members will most likely join the PDF.

 

[cornutt]

I think the proposed rule change that individual members must first be members of constituent organizations might be quite controversial.
Wonder what will happen to that? If it is passed, the PDF will become a very powerful organization, since most "individual" members will most likely join the PDF.

What are the "constituent organizations"? I didn't realize there was any such thing.

 

[DancingJools]

They are actually "member organizations". The NDCA is a council of organizations. You can find a list of these organizations on the NDCA website. I have always wondered about some of them, and what size membership they have. I've googled a few and came up with very little information, as if some of these organizations are no more than a handful of individuals who are also the directors, etc.
The pdf, the Professional Dancers Association, now that's another animal altogether. It seeks to organize and represent the individual professionals who compete in NDCA events. I don't know its size, but I know it's pretty active.

 

[Joe]

"Rafts?"

 

[DrDoug]

"Rafts?"

For those dancers who are serious about floating floors.

 

[Joe]

Ha!

 

[Me]

Amend the approved tempi list of dances to list Beats per minute rather than Bars per Minute.

God, why bother? Like anybody is going to notice (or understand) the difference. These are the people that say slow quick quick, regardless of how slow or quick the step is, or what the music sounds like. Drives me NUTS.

 

[cornutt]

God, why bother? Like anybody is going to notice (or understand) the difference. These are the people that say slow quick quick, regardless of how slow or quick the step is, or what the music sounds like. Drives me NUTS.

Personally I think it's a good change. I'm used to thinking in beats per minute -- when I get a disc of smooth music and the tempi are all stated in bars, and I'm trying to work out in my head the 3/4 and 4/4 timings... :shock: The world of musicians these days uses beats-per-minute exclusively, as far as I know.

 

[Me]

Personally I think it's a good change. I'm used to thinking in beats per minute -- when I get a disc of smooth music and the tempi are all stated in bars, and I'm trying to work out in my head the 3/4 and 4/4 timings... :shock: The world of musicians these days uses beats-per-minute exclusively, as far as I know.

Well, that's 'cause you has a brain.

I'm just thinking about some 'professionals' who play night club 2s and dance impossibly slow boleros, try to EC swing to jive, etc.

They'll stroke out at the next comp. "OH NOES THE NUMBERS IS CHANGED!"

 

[tangotime]

me

Let me get this straight-- you believe, that teachers count in s and q , and they are NOT counting the correct speed of the piece ?. I think you are sadly misguided .
Any " trained " teacher, can , and will , break down movement in beats and bars, that is how they are trained and examined , and how we teach .

The reason bars are more commonly referred to, is music is generally written in sequences of bars, as in 16 and 32 ( and sometimes, pick up bars inserted ). The speed of the music is determined by how many bars per minute is contained in a given piece . Now-- if you do not understand, that your dance is played in 4 / 4 -- 2/4-- or 3 / 4 and cannot multiply the bars designated speed, to find out how many beats there are , then you have no right to be teaching .

When choreographing
dance sequences, it is important to be able to identify, where a specific problem in the execution of same , may be occuring-- as in the 7th bar 3rd beat .

Teaching employs far more knowledge , than just counting in beats , it also has to fit rhythmicaly. Well trained teachers, use all of the above to create a result .

 

[Chris Stratton]

Let me get this straight-- you believe, that teachers count in s and q , and they are NOT counting the correct speed of the piece ?. I think you are sadly misguided .
Any " trained " teacher, can , and will , break down movement in beats and bars, that is how they are trained and examined , and how we teach .

As the reference was to competition rules, the issue is clearly a mistake by dancers, not a mistake by teachers. And yes, there are people who will quite happily say "SQQ" while dancing "QQ+" - a change from bars to beats won't matter one bit for them.

Really it will matter very little for anyone, as anyone who really needs to consult the official rules is presumably capable of multiplying by three or four, and knows which is the appropriate factor.

 

[Me]

Really it will matter very little for anyone, as anyone who really needs to consult the official rules is presumably capable of multiplying by three or four, and knows which is the appropriate factor.

You'd be surprised.

My opinion is probably shaded by my region and my current frame of mind. When I finally move to an area with more professional ballroom, I'll find more real professionals. I just know that I've worked with... ONE... in my area, who truly understands music. Also, I've been pouring over manuals that have a bunch of Ss and Qs in them and it is most annoying.

 

[tangotime]

By the way, musicians count in bars and beats--listen to an orchestra leader, and he will refer to the , for e.g. , third measure (read bar ) 2 nd beat should be A flat .DJs are the prime user of beats. as they are much easier to mix ( world of salsa ) ballroom does not have that problem , when playing for general dancing .
And Chris, I refer you to my original statement -"Trained" teachers .